Just weeks after the shutdown of Gatwick Airport, London’s Heathrow has faced similar disruption this afternoon.

Scores of flights have been affected, as departures were halted from the UK’s biggest airport due to a suspected drone sighting.

Alex Maskey, an MP from Northern Ireland, revealed that flights to Belfast have been disrupted tweeted: “On plane at Heathrow to travel back to Belfast and just been told that there was a drone spotted near airport. Assessment being done. Could be a long night.”

A Heathrow spokesperson confirmed the news and released a statement saying: “We are currently responding to a drone sighting at Heathrow and are working closely with the Met Police to prevent any threat to operational safety.

“As a precautionary measure, we have stopped departures while we investigate.”

Passengers are rightly worried about the news. When Gatwick was affected in December it took several days to get many customers home and flight schedules operating normally. Around 1,000 flights were cancelled at that time.

Currently the Beyond Business Travel team are liaising with all our clients affected by the disruption. We are working diligently to rebook flights and arrange alternative accommodation. Where appropriate we will also arrange for cancellations and refunds.